Combined shelf and table



PatentedJune 6 G. M. WE'LKBR. COMBINED SHELF AND TABLE.

(No Model) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE MURRAY VELKER, OF BRYAN, OHIO.

COMBINED SHELF AND TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,893, dated June 6, 1893.

Application tiled June 2S, 1892. Serial No. 438,294. tNo model.)

To 1,55 whom t may concern;

Be it known that. I, GEORGE MURRAY WEL- KER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bryan, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display Shelves and Tables; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisl specification.

My invention relates to a combined rack or shelf and table, and has for its object to so construct the parts that the device can be readily and quickly transformed from a rack or shelf into a table, or vice versa, and to that end and for the accomplishment of such other objects as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in combining a series of cross bars or shelves with suitable hinged or pivoted side supports in suc-h manner that when said supports are in one position, for

t instance, an upright position, the cross bars or shelves will stand one above the other so as to afford a series of supports or shelves for articles that may be placed thereon and when the. pivoted supports are folded or turned down the cross bars or shelves shall be caused to assume a position wherein they will all lie in the same horizontal plane, or practically so, so as to form the leaf or flat top of the table. The construction also admits of the device being used as a step ladder as for instance if the pivoted or hinged supports be turned sulciently to place them in an inclined position instead of a vertical or horizontal posit-ion the cross bars or shelves will stand at an inclination, that is in step order so as to constitute steps, or shelves inclinedfrom top to bottom, there being employed suitable means for holding the shelves or steps at the inclination desired.

The invention further consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter particularly described and then specilically defined by the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof. I

Figure l is a perspective of the device showing the shelves one above the other; Fig. 2 a vertical cross section through the device when adjusted for a table; Fig. 3 a vertical section of the device when the shelves are in an inclined position; Fig. 4 a rear view of a portion of the device, on an enlarged scale.

In the drawings the letter A designates a frame or stand of any approved pattern which is designed to support the shelves. To the upright portionsBof the stand or frame there are pivoted the two opposite parallel bars C. To these parallel bars thereare pivoted the forward portions of the shelves D, the rear portions of the shelves having a pivoted or hinged connection, for instance by means of the hinges E, with the rear parallel opposite bars F so that when the parallel bars O and F are in an upright position the series of shelves will stand one above the other in a horizontal position and when said parallel bars C and F are moved into a horizontal position the shelves will be caused -to assume the same horizontal plane with each other with their adjoining edges close together so as to form a fiat top or leaf as illustrated in Fig. 3. The distance between the shelves when they are one above the oth er will be equal to the width of the shelves so as to bring the edges of the shelves close together when they are moved in the same horizontal plane, but it is obvious that the distance between the shelves may be greater than the width of the shelves; but it is preferred to have the space between the shelves and the width of the shelves practically the same so that when the shelves are in the same horizontal plane their edges will be close together and no material space left between them. It is also preferred to set the rear parallel bars F a little inside of the front parallel bars C so that when the shelves are brought into the same horizontal plane the parallel bars F will lie just inside of the parallel bars O as illustrated and the latter will lie between the former and sides of the stand whereby the stand will serve to brace the part-s against lateral strain when the bars are in a horizontal position. It is preferred in practice to make one of the shelves, forinstance the shelf D', stationary so that it will always stand in the same horizontal plane while the other shelves when folded will be IOO brought into the same plane therewith, the upper shelves being brought down to that plane and thelower shelves up to that plane.

A cross bar G extends across the upper portion of the stand or frame and besides serving to brace the same and to afford a stop for the pivotal bars when moved to an upright position also serves to afford a support for the parallel bars F when turned into a horizontal position and serves also to check the movement of said bars and thus aid in sustaining the leaf or lop in a horizontal position. The cross bar G may have notches or recesses H in which the parallel bars F may lie whenin their horizontal positions.

Pins J and hooks l may be attached respectively to the upright portions B of the stand and to the parallel bars C so as to engage with each other and thus prevent the top or leaf from accidentally tilting when in a horizontal position.

The construction described enables me when desired to have a series of shelves one above the other for supporting articles of merchandise, which shelves can be readily shifted to bring them into the same Ahorizontal plane so that the goods or articles will be on the same plane when desired to be displayed along side of each other and to be brought Within more convenient reach of the salesman and purchaser. This change from the shelves one above the other to the top or leaf can be effected without removing the articles and without liability of the articles slipping from off the shelves, as the shelves will always stand horizontally during the operation of shifting them from different horizontal planes into the same plane or vice versa. If the articles to be displayed be placed on the forward portions of the shelves they will not interfere with the bringing of the shelves into the same horizontal plane as in the adjustment of the shelves they are not brought near enough together to practically lessen the space between the shelves until they have passed the point beyond where they would interfere with the articles or goods resting upon the shelf. If the goods or articles upon the shelves balance each other above and below the point of pivoting the parallel side bars to the stand, the shelves will Astand at any inclination between the vertical and a horizontal position in the same plane so that the goods can be displayed at the angle or inclination desired.l Itis also Obvious that by employing a hook and eye or any other suitable holding device, the shelves can be held at the inclination desired to sustain them in step order so that if desired the device can be used as a step ladder for use in the store room or elsewhere.

The device is composed of few parts, is simple in construction, is not liable to get out of repair, and is readily convertible from a shelf support into a table with a flat top.

I have described with particularity the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts but I do not mean to restrict myself thereto as itis obvious that many changes can be made and the essential features of my invention still be retained.

Having described myinvention and set forth its merits, what I claim is- 1. rlhe combination of the stand, pivotal bars sustained by said stand, shelves having a loose connection with said pivotal bars to permit them to stand one above the other or when in a horizontal position and affording a stop for them when raised to an upright position, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination of the stand, pivotal bars suspended by said stand, shelves having a loose connection with said pivotal bars to permit them to stand one above the other, or in the same horizontal plane, one set of said bars standing inside of the other set to permit one set to lie along side of and between the other set and the sides of the stand when in a horizontal position whereby the sides of the stand will constitute a brace for said parts, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of the stand, the pivotal bars sustained by said stand, shelves having a loose connection with said pivotal bars to permit them to stand one above the other atan inclination orina horizontal plane, and a locking device for securing said shelves in both their horizontal and inclined positions, substantially as and for the purposes described.

ln testimony whereof Iafiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE MURRAY W ELKER.

Vitnesses:

R. L. STARR, EMMA J. KAMBLE.

IOO 

